Automatic speed control for windmills



June 26, 1928- y F. R. BuRcH 1675159 AUTOMATIC SPEED CONTROL FOR WINDMILLS Filed June 16. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet l l Il .Il Il...

I A' VE N TOR #mwa/Imam y June 26,` 19.28. 1,6757159 F. R. BURCH AUTOMATIC SPEED CONTROL FOR WINDMILLS l IFiled June 1e, 1926 2 sheets-sheet 2 v A TTORNE Y.

Patented June 26, i922 UNITED STATES FREDERICK R. BURCI'I, OIE* SEATTLE, WASHINGTON.

AUTOMATIC SPEED' CONTROL FOR WINDMIILS.

Applica-non inea runeA is,

This invention. relates to speed governors *for wind operated motors. 1 i

rjihe objects of the invention, vgenerally stateffare first, to provide apparatus which will regulatel the performance of a wind nrotor responsive to variations in the speed or power ot the wind which operatesthe motor so that the power agent will bey ntilized to its maximum extent that at all velocities JEhereof and` without either under or over burdening the motor; and, second to provide apparatus which will be etfectually controlled by the work in a manner to cause the wind motor to operate at a substantially uniform predetermined.speed regardless of any variation ot' the power or velocity of the wind which impels the moving parts ot the motor to have the same operate at' its most elliot-ent speed under` all conditions of wind.

More spcciti'c objects and advantages ofthe invention will appear in the followingl description.

The invention is based upon the well understood principle of mechanics to the effectfthat the amount of work is proportional to and isv measured" by' the product of the resisting torce multiplied by the amount of motion along the direction of the torce.

The invention is attained by three cooperating' agencies, namely-the VWork'regulator, the, regulator setting system, 'and .governing devices.

The invention further consists in the novel construction, adaptation and combination ol parts hereinafter described and claimed.

ln4 the accompanying drawings,- Figure l is a viewpartly in plan and partly in. horizontal section of: devices embodying vmy invention; Fig. 2 is a view of the saine, partly in elevation and partly in vertical section, said section being taken substantially on the broken line 2--2 ot' Fig. l, and including in elevation a diagrammatic representation of a wind motor; and Fig. 3 is an end elevation taken from the right hand side of Fig. l.

For the purpose of exemplifying my in* vention, it is shown applied to `the type o wind motor which is' illustrated and described in. patent application, Serial No. 96,4511, filed by me March 22', 1926. Said wind motor, as represented in Fig; 2 of the drawing in the; present case, comprises a plu- 1926. Serial No. 116,494.`

vgearing; 9 to; cause the shaft to be rotated at asp'eed having a definite ratio speed of the ,mast 7.

` 4lhepower shaft is provided with a crank, `herein shown as a 4disk wheel l0 provided with al crank Vpin. lLcwherebya pump 12 is actuated for pumping water` This pump t2; may be` ot any suitable type and size. For illustrative purposes, said pump is shown as 'ofthe doubleacting` type having a piston 13 arrangedrto be reciprocated in the Vpuinpbore lll, with an inlet port l and an ,outlet port ltimat each endl ot the bore through which communication is had with the fpun'ips intalre and discharge chambers and i8. respectively. n y A Said" ports are controlled by spring' closing valves 151' and 161 acting responsive to the strokes of the piston 13. i9 represents a suction; pipe leadingr from al sump or other source ot' water supply to the intake chamber," and is'a pipe for the delivery of Water from the' pump discharge chamber According tothe illustrated embodiment of the `present invention, the rod 2l ltor said piston operates in a `guide 22 (Fi'g) g and vbetweenthe said guide and the pump `cylinder the rod lis formed or provided with an opening 23 to receive a hollow block 24 whichisconnected for oscillatory move mentto the rod` by` means ot trunnion studs 25.

The `block 24 is mounted `upon an arm 26 which Yis arranged for vibratory movement in a vertical plane by having its lower end pivotally` connected by a pin 27 toa support 28'. i i Y' The` upper end ot the arm` 26 is `connected to the rotary by a pinr 29pto an end ot a connecting rod 30 whose other end is connected to the crank ,pin 11 of the shat't 8 for transmitting vpower from the shaft to operate the pump.`

lAs best shown in Fin', 2,the arm support 28` is afforded by the "piston rod ot a piston 3l which is movable vertically in the bore of a liquid containing cylinder 32. The movement ot the support above the cylinder isregulated by suitable guides, herein shown as posts-38 extending through WaysI provided in sleeves 34 provided upon thegextreinities of the pin 27. As will beunderstood froman inspection of Fig. 3, by elevating` the support 28 foi' the arm 26 the connection (at 29) of the arm with the con-` necting rod 30 is elevated'ab'ove the planeof movement of the pump piston rod 21 bringing the latter, in effect, closer to the axis ofY movement of the vibratory arm 26;' but when said support is lowered, the connection of the latter with the connecting rod 30 is broughtcloserto the plane of movement vof the pump rod 21 whence the ,pump4 rod is, in effect, moved away from'thev axis ofrvibrationof said arm. VFrom the foregoing it is apparent that the extentof the vibratory movement of the arm `26 imparted thereto by the connectingrod from the crank ofthe shaft` 8 :is constant whereas theV length,

of the stroke of the pump piston is dependent :upon the distance the plane of travel of the pumprod'21` is above the axisfof the pin connection" of armV 26 with the vertically movable support 28e-or, as may otherwise be stated, changing of the lengths of the arc of travel' of th'eblock 24, which is sleeved upon the vibratory arm, changes the lengths fof stroke of the pumppiston 13.

j The mechanism above described including the piston 31, the link, or vibratory arm, 26 together with the connections between the latter and both the connecting rod `30 and therod 21 of the pump piston13 for regulating Vthe extent lof motion of such piston 'constitutes a sub-organization ofthe invention "which Idesignate as the work regulator andits operation may be explained as "follows: When the pump is oper# ating with short strokesthere is relativelyy littleA water :discharged from the pump,a most efficient performance when the wind motor is actuated by a light breezethat is to say,`have the motor .produce when the poweris light. Y

VVhen the pump piston, however, is oper-v ating with long` strokes the volumeof water discharged from the pump is relatively littlework large, a desiiable condition to prevail when thel wind motor.v is subjected to the power afforded byfawind of high velocity,V thus, furnishingwork suitable for a heavy wind.

For controlling the work regulator, there "is employed what Iterm as the regulator setting system a sub-organization Vof the invention which is 'actuated by the motor,

' preferably through the mediumof the pump to be hereinafter described. e

Said regulator setting system, consists `apparatus utilizing therein a fluid, such as operatingV shaft 8,and is `controlled by the speed thereof by another sub-organization which I have termed the governing devices oil for example, fas they power transmitting agent. Such apparatus vor system, see Fig. 2, includes a circulating pumpV having a cylin- .niembci-"of the governing devices' of the casing.

tions 45 and 46.l`he inletand outlet connections V44 and l45, respectively, constitute part of a by-pass lincluding a pipe 47 and a vrelief valveof which the valve 48, proper, is

actuated by a spring49rto close `the by-pass `against the fiowof fluid therethroughwhen the piston 37 is operating; except when the Aoutlet 46 of` the' cylinderv is rendered inoperative by means of a valvev 50v which forms a above mentioned. Y

This valve 50, as shown, is in the nature of a piston valvepperating in a casing 51 to control .the flow of iiuid between the pump cylinder 36 and the cylinder 32.

The valve 50 ischaracterized by thel provision of passages`52 -aording communica tion-between the spaces vat both endsy of the casing 51.V The valve is also provided with a .cavity 53 extending circuinferentiallyV .thereabout between annular ridge portions ofthe valve, each ofthe. ridges beingrof aidiameter to fit the bore ofthe casing@ 'g These ridges954 are, moreover, spaced'V vapartso that,v in the intermediate position of the valve, as'representedin Figf2, they will coverip'ortsprovided in the peripheral wall communicate by meansv of pipesA 55 "and 56 with the upper and lower endsrespectivelyicsv The last mentioned" ports of the bore of the Acylinder .32 containing' the piston member 31of the work regulator. Y Y The valve casingl isalso provided at one end of Yitsf' bore with an 'opening `which is Vshown as connectedbv'means ofthe pipe 46 with the upper end of the pump cylinder 36.

T he valve. casing- 5l alsoconnected by a z pipe 57- leadingtotheinlet connection 44 of thecylinder 36 Vfrom a. port located in said casing soas to valways communicate with the valve cavity53. .Y p.

Theabove described regulator setting system operates as follows: Then the valve 50 (which controls the system) is `moved upwardlyvto uncover thcports foripipes 55 and 56, communication is established between the discharge end of thepuinp cylinder 36 and the lower end of the cylinder 32, with a return lead Vfrom theupper end ofthecylinderl 32 `by way'ofthe valve cavity: 53 tothe intake end `ofthe:V pump cylinderf/ When this condition prevails, oil is forced news1-5e by the circulating pump into the cylinder 32 below the Y piston 3l' causing the latter to movel upwardly thus influencing the work regulator by elevating the support 28 for the vibratory arm 26y to reduce the effective length ofA strokes of' the connecting rod 30 with respect to the stroke of the work piston 13 of the pump 1:2. 'Vhen by a downward movement 'ofthe valve 50 there is an un# covering of the-ports for the pipes and 56, communication is established between the upper and lower ends, respectively, of both of' the cylinders 32 and 36, resulting in the circulating pump forcing oil under pressure into the upper e-nd of cylinder and an outflow of liquid from below the piston 3l whereby the latter is caused tol descend ac companied by the vibratory arm 26 -to increase the length o-f strokes of the piston 13.

When the valve 50 is returned to the posi tion in which it is illustrated in F ig. 2', it prevents any communication for the lowof liquid from one to the other of the referred to cylinders, 32, 36?; whereupon the bodies of oil remaining in the cylinder 32-above and below the piston lll-serve mutually to retain the same for the time beingin static con? dition.

Thepiston 3l when thus held is in its normal position, as will obtain when the wind motor is actuated byl a substantially steady wind, fluctuations in the wind velocity being compensated for by shortening or increasing the length ofthe strokesof the pump piston 13 to correspondingly decrease or increase the amount of work required by the motor.

It is to be noted that when the pipe connections between the two cylinders of the regulator setting system are rendered inoperative by the valve 50, the by-pass connections, l-i, between the ends of the cylinder 36 become operative for the short circuiting of the liquid from end to end of the circulating pump.

All of the operations of the regulator setting system are controlled through the instrumentality of the valve 50 which forms a partof the third sub-organization of devices which, as a whole, is designated as the governing devices.

The governing devices function responsive to the speed of the wind motor. Included in such devices is a suitable speed governor, that shown being a centrifugal ball governor in which the ball carrying arms 59 are pivoted to the upper end of a rotary hollow spindle 60 through which extends the stem 61,01 the valve 50.

Said stem is provided with rack teeth 62 in continuous mesh with the gear teeth 63 provided upon the arms 59 whereby the valve is caused to ascend and descend by the descending and ascending movements, respectively, of the governor balls when they are influenced by gravitation and centrifuga-l `forceo'btaining at different revoluble speeds;

For revolving these balls, the spindleOLis rotated by toothed gea-ringy 64 from asliaft :65 which is drivenfrom the powershaft 8 as by means of an endlessbelt 66 passing about pulleys 81` and 651 mounted upon the respective shafts. 1 i i From the foregoing description it will be seen that theV governing devices acting through the` agency of a controlling valve i regulates the action of thev control, or setting system, for the regulator which governs the stroke of pump by which the work isperfoi-ined soA that there will at all times be a balance of power and duty suchfthat the motor will be constrained to operate atan amaroximately uniform speed under `various wind pressures.. f Y 1 i I have thus provided an automatic speed control suitable for use on windmills.

iVhile Vthe embodiment of the invention which I have described has proved mostfeilicient in practice, yet Ido not wish to be understood as limiting the invention thereto, as other embodiments may be made within the. scope of the appended claims. i

Vl/vlhat I claim, is, f i l. The combination with a windmill and a power pump, of operative connections bctweeu the said windmill and said pump for l operating-the latter, said connections including adjustable means `for varying the effective power o-f lsaid pump, fluid actuated apparatus for regulating said' adjustable means, a valve controlling the action of the fluid agent within said apparatus, a speed governor operated by the windmill and operatively connected with the valve whereby the fluid agent of said apparatus is utilized to increase and decrease the effective power of said pump correspondingV to the increase and decrease, respectively, of theV force of the wind which operates the windmill.

2. The combination with a windmill,` a power pump having a piston therein, a piston rod therefor, and a crank shaft rotated` by the windmill, of a vibratory arm, an adjustably movable support therefor` a hollow block slidably mounted upon said arm, a connecting rod operatively connecting the crank pin of said shaft with said arm for swinging the lat-ter to effect reciprocatory motion to said piston, fluid actuated means for controlling the position of said support with respect to its connection with the piston rod for regulating the stroke of said piston,

a valye for controlling the action of the fluid within said means, and a governor driven by the windmill for regulating said valve. Y

3. In combination, a windmill, a pump, a piston therein havingl a piston rod, a vibratory arm, a hollow block slidable upon said arm and operatively connected tol the piston rod, means for guiding` said block in the plane oftraveloftheV piston rod, a crank shaft,

l windmill and operative connection between 'the the shaft, for rotating the :la-tter at a` definite ratio to the speed of the windmill; a connecting rod operatively-'connectingrtlie crank pinof the shaft witliasaid arm for vibrating the arm to reciprocate the piston, andmeanspto regulate the relative V` position of said block upon said arm with respect to the connection of the lattery with saidv connectingl rod, the last named means comprising fluid operated apparatus,-y anda speedV governor operated by the windmillfor regulating the act-ion of the fluid lagent in a cont-rol Valveincluded in said connections, said valve being adapted to regulate the supply of fluid under pressure from the pump to either side of the. piston and the withdrawal `of KVthefuidy from the opposite side ofthe day-bf May piston for `:influencing said piston to regulate said mechanism, and meaiiscontrolled by the speed of the/windmill forlregulating the action of said valve. y f u Y f 5, In apparatus as defined in claimje,y

r'wherein tlieyaljve is ,provided with-a casing having ports for saidn connections between the pumpand the cylinder, sai'dports being` arranged to belcontrolled by tlieyalye s o as to close the communication between the pump and theicylinder and to confine the piston between` two static bodies :of fluid when" the windmillV is Voperating at an approximately predetermined speed.

v6. 'lnV apparatus as defined 'no claim` el, wherein the valve isprovided with a casing 'having4 ports for 'saidv connections between lthe `pump and the Cylinder, said ports being ,arranged to be controlled bythe valve so as to, close the communication between Vthe pump and thek cylinderan'd to confine thepiston between two static bodies of fluid when the windmill is operating at anapproxnnately predetermined speechand tlie suction and vdelivery connections 4of the pump are 'lconneeted by'a by-passincluding a non-return relief valve, said relief'va-lye permitting' the fluid beingvcirculated through the pump andV the by-pass'when the control valvewis operating to close communication between the pump and the cylinder..y

' Signed-at Seattle, Washng'toin Jthis 20th 1926. u t J 7 Y e FREDERICK R.: BURCH. 

